The Handling of Two Big Milwaukee Fires.

The Handling of Two Big Milwaukee Fires.

The two big fires which visited Milwaukee, some weeks ago, within three days of each other, involving a property loss in both fires of more than $150,000 made it necessary for Chief Clancy’s men to put forth their best efforts. The details of the situation and the data of special interest to firemen are reported by our Milwaukee informant as follows:

The first of the two fires occurred in the plant of the Kieckhefer Box company, a practically new but unsprinklered brick building, three stories high. It covered a ground area of 150x600 ft. and faced on a street 40 ft. in width. The fire originated from an unknown cause in the base ment and had spread throughout the building when the firemen arrived. The contents were of prepared lumber and finished goods and highly inflammable. Fourteen engines, three fireboats, five trucks and two chemical engines were cm ployed, and 29 streams were thrown at one time, 20 from the engines and 9 from the fireboats. The nozzles employed ranged from 1¼ to 2 in. cotton, rubber-lined hose to the length of 22,150 ft. was used, of which seven length burst. There were four single. Wood hydrants of 6-in. dimensions and two cisterns available. The water at the hydrants was not sufficient to furnish good plug streams and supply the engines. The fire had such headway that the employes had to flee for their lives. One person lost his life and several were maimed by jumping from windows. The property loss is estimated as $125,000. There was a blanket policy of $182,000.